You need a function, not an object
Before buying it helps to ask: What task is this thing supposed to solve? Not “do I want a shelf” but “what am I going to store and how”. Not…
A Promise Is a Debt
A good reputation does not remove the need for clear agreements. “I’ll try”, “we’ll see” and “I’ll do it” mark different degrees of commitment. The problem arises when the speaker…
Boxes and Averages
Public conversation loves categories: men and women, generations, professions, nations, introverts and extroverts. Thinking is impossible without categories, but the average characteristic of a group easily turns into an invented…
Children as an Irreversible Joint Project
Little children, little troubles; big children, big troubles. — Russian proverb A child is called a continuation of the parents. Then everyone is surprised when the continuation wants to live…
An Adult You Can Tell
Childhood morality offers two simple rules: always tell your parents, or never give up a secret you were trusted with. A dangerous situation calls for a different criterion — find…
Rest Does Not Have to Justify Itself
The culture of efficiency demands that even rest should develop you, impress people and pay for itself in photographs. Meanwhile rest without effort can be good rest, if your strength…